What I'm reading; what I'm working on; what musical ideas I am passionate about. It's a forum to share my thoughts on more than just music. It's about the sounds, the people, and the experiences that inspire me, every day, to do what I love. "Enriching people's lives with music."

7.28.2009

Summer is almost over but if you are still looking for a project to keep the kids busy why not make music instruments out of common household trash items. My daughter and I have been saving toilet paper rolls just with these kinds of projects in mind. Other items that can be rescued from the trash and transformed into fun music making tools are:

plastic water bottles

oatmeal containers

coffee cans

tissue boxes

plastic silverware

Once you have collected your supplies from the recycle bin, the next step is collecting a few additional items from around the house or the dollar store to complete these fun projects.

Make a Kazoo with Toilet Paper TubesLearn how to make a kazoo out of used toilet paper tubes!

Coffee Can or Oatmeal Container DrumsThis project is pretty simple and just involves some creative art design. You are going to need and intact coffee can or oatmeal container with lid and art supplies for decorating the outside. You don't necessarily need to glue down your lid unless you want to. I will leave that step up to you. The sky's the limit to how you decorate your drum. I have decoupaged paper onto the outside of my drum. I have used paints and paint pens to make cool designs. Simply taping decorative paper to the side of your drum also looks nice. Once your drum is dry all you have left to do is make some noise...I mean rhythmic music. Plastic silverware makes great drum sticks in a pinch, too.

Water Bottle ShakersFill your empty water bottle with beads, rice or beans to make cool shaker sounds. My favorite combo is multi-colored beads and glitter for sparkle. Not much decorating is needed but I would suggest using glue to seal your lid so you don't accidentally loose your shaker contents. Just a precautionary measure.

Tissue Box Guitar Empty tissue boxes make great guitars with the addition of a few large rubber bands slipped over the hole in the box. Decorate the outside of the box if desired before adding the rubber bands. Once finished you can strum to your hearts content. Experiment with different sized rubber bands for different sounds and pitches.

Now comes the fun part, creating your own recycled music band. Gather your family or some of your children's friends and rock out. Consider adding accompaniment to your favorite children's songs or just turn on the radio and see what's playing.

7.22.2009

I couldn't celebrate Children's Music Month without this song. I just love monkeys! I have quite the collection of monkeys that I now share with my two little ones. So find the little monkey in your life and watch this video. Enjoy!

7.15.2009

Do parents need children's music videos more than the kids do? Comedian and musician Rob Paravonian explores this topic beautifully with Children's song, inspired by your child's favorite music characters on video and TV.

7.13.2009

The Raytown Arts Council has selected THE WIZARD OF OZ as their 2009 summer musical. This Broadway Musical production will be their 12th of the annual series. The show opens this week on Friday and Saturday, July 17 and 18 at 7:30 PM plus a matinee on Sunday, July 19 at 3:00 PM. There will also be two more performances the following week on Friday, July 24 and Saturday, July 25, both at 7:30 PM. For more information and a complete cast list check out the Raytown Arts Council Website. See you at the show!

7.08.2009

I loved to play with refrigerator alphabet magnets when I was little. This video uses them to help you and your child with your alphabet. Check out http://supersimplesongs.com for more neat children's songs.

7.06.2009

My list of the top 5 things you need to enrich your child's life with music.

Library Card - Our public libraries are an amazing source for music materials and as long as you return them on time they are practically free. The Children's Books section houses many selections authored from our favorite nursery rhymes. Taking old favorites and making them new again. Videos and Cd's are also available for you to try. Since you aren't buying them you can widen your scope of selection and take something new home. Who knows you may find a new favorite. Don't feel like you have to stick to just children's themed items. Kids are more sophisticated than we realize and are able to appreciate many different styles. The skies the limit.

Homemade Music Instruments - This mostly applies to crafting your own percussion instruments from things you may already have around your house. Toilet paper tube or water bottle shakers, coffee can drums, hand painted dowel rod rhythm sticks. Tutorials for all of these things and more can be found online or soon on the Elliott Music Studio blog. Give supplies to your child and let them loose. Don't forget to take video of your new handmade music band.

CD Player or MP3 player - This is pretty self explanatory but I had to list it. Once you have visited the library or borrowed music from a friend you need something to play it with. CD players are great for younger children who are old enough to push play by themselves or stop or fast forward, etc..

Computer - In my music making this is probably my most important tool when I am learning new things. With YouTube.com and the tons of children's music websites out there with free downloads you shouldn't run out of new things to explore. Search for Children's Music on this blog to find some of my favorites. With older children you can download one of the many open source recording software programs out there and start your own recording studio at home.

You - You are your child's most important music making tool. You are there to expand their horizons and share with them new and exciting things. You don't have to be an amazing musician to accomplish this. You just have to want to start this journey with your child.

7.04.2009

7.01.2009

Now that we are potty training my eldest daughter, I realize that parents will do just about anything no matter how silly it may make them look to get their child to use the bathroom. Some days are harder than others and I really could use the comic relief during this process. This song came at the right time recently. So, if you looking for a new way to motivate your little one to go potty or could use a good laugh this one is for you. Enjoy!

"Saying thank you is more than manners. It is good Spirituality." ~Alfred Painter

Who is Behind the Elliott Music Studio?

My name is Emily Elliott and I have been blessed with my work as a professional musician, instructor, director and worship leader with 10+ years experience equipping individuals, choirs and ensembles with the skills needed for music excellence.

In 2008, I started the Elliott Music Studio blog to share what I am working on and the musical ideas that I am passionate about. Since then I have created a forum to share my thoughts on music and the experiences that inspire me, every day, to do what I love. "Enriching people's lives with music."